The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) developed a list of financial resources for Washington consumers impacted by the Coronavirus. Resources include information on mortgage assistance, student loans, emergency loans and more. Links to each resource are listed below.

Unemployment Assistance

If you are out of work, Washington State’s Employment Security Department at https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19 provides support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in Washington.

The Employment Security Department has adopted a series of emergency rules to relieve the burden of temporary layoffs, isolation and quarantine for workers and businesses.

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented demand for our services—especially unemployment insurance and Paid Family and Medical Leave. The website states that they are working to increase their capacity by hiring more people and expanding their hours.

Trouble Paying Credit Cards

If you have seen a reduction in pay due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make your credit card or loan payments, contact your credit card company right away. Explain your situation and ask about hardship programs that may be available. Regulatory agencies have encouraged financial institutions to work with customers impacted by the coronavirus.

Credit card companies and lenders may be able to offer you a number of options to help you. This could include waiving certain fees like ATM, overpayments, and late fees, as well as allowing you to delay, adjust, or skip some payments. What Should I Do If I Can’t Pay My Credit Card Bills?

Information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. located at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-if-i-cant-pay-my-credit-card-bills-en-1697/

Debt Assistance: Find A Credit Counselor

A credit counselor may able to assist you with your debt problems. Contact one near you. Access information here: https://www.nfcc.org/

Mortgage Assistance

If you do not have enough money to cover your mortgage payment, contact your lender immediately. Homeowners in distress may call DFI’s toll-free number 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334) to talk to a member of our team and to get assistance in how best to contact their mortgage servicer, and to learn more about their options.

Don’t wait until you’re behind on payments. Lenders may work with you to waive late fees, set up a repayment plan or offer loan forbearance.

If you would like to talk to a housing counselor, call the Washington Homeownership Hotline at 1.877.894.HOME.

Additional Resources:

Assistance for Washington Homeowners - https://dfi.wa.gov/homeownership

Coronavirus mortgage assistance available to Washington homeowners. Access that site here: https://dfi.wa.gov/homeownership

List of Housing Counseling Agencies in Washington - https://tinyurl.com/vhkuxl7

Housing counselors may be able to assist you with your needs. Contact a housing counselor near you.

Paying Student Loans

If you’re having trouble making payments, contact your loan servicer as soon as possible. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, contact your school. You can easily avoid the consequences of delinquency or default by staying in touch with your servicer or school.

Your servicer or school can provide information about deferment or forbearance options that allow you to temporarily stop making payments on your loans. You may also be able to change to a different repayment plan that would give you a lower monthly payment.

Additional Resources:

Federal Student Loan Payments suspended, Interest Waived During National Emergency

Information from the Department of Education. https://tinyurl.com/vrqgqp7

Student Loan Deferment or Forbearance - https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus

Washington Student Achievement Council COVID-19 Resources - https://wsac.wa.gov/covid-19

Information and resources from the Washington Student Achievement Council

Utilities Assistance

Governor Jay Inslee has called on all public utilities in Washington state to ensure the health and safety of their employees and the public by suspending disconnection tariffs for nonpayment during this emergency; waiving late fees for customers who are out of work or offering customers payment plans; and expanding bill assistance programs for customers who are economically impacted by this emergency. Many utility companies are already doing this. For assistance, contact your utility company.

Puget Sound Energy - https://www.pse.com/

Pacific Power - https://tinyurl.com/spruhxv